The Mike Hosking Breakfast
Mike's Minute: Electoral fantasy vs what will actually happen
22 Jun 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: How should we handle the influx of election ideas?
how to handle the avalanche of ideas that are starting to tumble our way, even though we're still five months, God, five months away from the election. So the nuances of MMP mean the vast majority of what is promoted on the campaign trail will never, of course, see the light of day. This is a great advantage to small parties and those in opposition. So the simple thing, I guess...
is to hear it all, debate it all, work it all out for ourselves. Now, the trouble with that is you get fatigue, of course, and you get confusion. What's in?
Chapter 2: What role does MMP play in election campaigning?
What's out? What might be in? What could be in? What will never happen? No matter how badly you want it, right? So it's all over the place. So buy-in in this country, generally around elections, is bad enough as it is between the divisive nature, not to mention the complete BS of social media. See if you're following social media at the moment.
People get hopelessly confused as to what's real and what is not. You've got this fanaticism right now of those of you telling you the entire conservation estate, you're following this on social media, the entire conservation estate is going to be sold. Very good case in point. I mean, I personally know people who believe that, even though it isn't remotely true.
So making it slightly more complex is the lack of bottom line. See, no one has one. There isn't a policy that a party will die on a hill for. So they can plead and promise and cajole and arm twist all their blue in the face. It's still no matter what the idea, it may never be a thing. Therefore, what do you vote on? So the Greens and their envy taxes yesterday, never happening.
The purchase by the state of the Bank of New Zealand, a Winston Peters special, never happening. Are the Nats and their compulsory super? I mean, personally, I doubt it's ever going to happen. It might not. I mean, it might get up, but it probably won't. So what is it we're actually voting for? Well, see, most of the stuff that Labour says so far will happen if they win.
Chapter 3: Why is social media causing confusion around election promises?
You know, those bus rides and the scans and the doctor's visits, more tax on houses. See, the Greens won't stop that. So at least, you know, with Labour to this point anyway, where you're at. Or from the government side, I would have thought basically the status quo. Same party, same policies. Surely it'll be the same rough...
coalition deal, unless, of course, ACT or New Zealand First surge and have greater leverage. And my guess is that's not going to happen. But if we air all the ideas, we're going to get flummoxed. We're going to get confused and bored and also disappointed when it doesn't eventuate. So we need to pick our subjects.
I reckon we need to pick our subjects, pick our topics with care and not get bogged down by electoral fantasy.